Director of Optics

The demand for new datacenters and AI compute is rapidly outpacing the planet's energy capacity. Digital solutions are hitting a power wall as we approach the physical limits of traditional silicon. Conquering this bottleneck isn’t about bigger chips or more of them; it means rethinking the fundamental architecture. The industry's current path isn’t going to meet the need, so we took a different approach.

Instead of traditional electronic circuits, we use silicon photonics and an active, programmable metasurface to perform matrix multiplications at the speed of light. Our optical cells are 10,000x smaller than traditional photonic components, enabling unprecedented density. By using photonics instead of electricity, our chips become more efficient as they scale. This architecture will deliver up to 100 times the energy efficiency of existing solutions while significantly improving performance for large-scale AI inference.

We’ve assembled a world-class team of industry veterans and recently raised a $110M Series A led by Gates Frontier. Participants include M12 (Microsoft’s Venture Fund), Carbon Direct Capital, Aramco Ventures, Bosch Ventures, Tectonic Ventures, Space Capital, and others. We have also been recognized on the EE Times Silicon 100 list for several consecutive years.

Join us and shape the future of computing!

Position Overview:

Neurophos is seeking a visionary Director of Optics to lead the strategic direction and architectural development of our Optical Processing Unit (OPU) for Neuromorphic AI compute. As a key member of the leadership team, you will be responsible for setting the optics technology roadmap and defining the architectures that will power the future of photonic AI hardware.

This role requires a proven track record of successfully deploying advanced optical modules into high-volume production. You will lead an elite team of engineers to translate groundbreaking research into robust, market-ready products.

Location: Austin, TX or San Jose, CA. Full-time onsite position.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership: Define and execute the long-term optics strategy and technology roadmap to maintain Neurophos’ competitive edge in AI acceleration.

• Architectural Development: Lead the design and definition of complex optical architectures for our Optical Processing Unit, ensuring seamless integration with metamaterials and silicon photonics.

• Technical Oversight: Supervise the modeling and simulation of coherent beam propagation using Gaussian beam optics, physical optics, and generalized beam matrix methods.

• Production & Scalability: Drive the transition of optical designs from concept to high-volume manufacturing, ensuring all architectures adhere to rigorous Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles.

• Precision Engineering: Oversee the development of advanced active alignment and calibration techniques to ensure optimal performance and minimal crosstalk in free-space optical sub-assemblies.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with the CTO and leads in Silicon Photonics, Electrical Engineering, and Software to deliver a unified hardware-software AI platform.

• Vendor & Ecosystem Management: Manage strategic relationships with external suppliers and manufacturing partners to validate components and secure the supply chain.

Qualifications:

• PhD or Master’s degree in Optics, Physics, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.

• 15+ years of industry experience in the design and development of high-performance free-space optical systems, with at least 5 years in a technical leadership or management capacity.

• Demonstrated success in deploying complex optical modules into production, specifically within the consumer electronics, telecommunications, or high-performance computing sectors.

• Expert-level knowledge of coherent light systems, Gaussian beam propagation, and ABCD matrix analysis.

  • Hands-on proficiency with industry-standard tools such as Zemax, CODE V, or LightTools, as well as scripting in MATLAB or Python for system validation.

  • Deep understanding of active alignment strategies for high-precision assemblies.

• Expertise in Monte Carlo simulations, tolerance analyses, and stray-light modeling to ensure reliability in real-world scenarios.

• Exceptional ability to communicate complex optical concepts to both technical stakeholders and non-technical executive leadership.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with neuromorphic computing or advanced AI hardware architectures.

• Knowledge of metamaterials or non-traditional optoelectronic integration.

• Familiarity with multi-aperture architectures or beam-steering systems.

This is an opportunity to play a pivotal role in an innovative startup redefining the future of AI hardware. Work on a game-changing technology at the intersection of photonics and AI as part of a collaborative and brilliant team. You’ll contribute to a platform that redefines computational performance and accelerates the future of artificial intelligence. Come help us bring this transformative technology to the world.

Join a team that invests in your future and your well-being. At Neurophos, we offer:

• 100% coverage of base health plan premiums for you and your dependents, plus HSA contributions.

• Unlimited PTO. No rigid vacation banks, just a focus on delivery.

• 401(k) matching and stock option opportunities to ensure our success is your success.

• Full suite of voluntary benefits, including Dental, Vision, Life, Hospital, Critical Illness, and Accident insurance.

• Personalized Benefits. Choose the plans that fit your life and take the cash back for those that don’t.